Ministries

At Central, our focus is on God and caring for one another in the love that Jesus commanded. We do this by not only being a light in our community through our worship to God, but also in service in ministering to both Christians, and those who do not know God at all.

Here are a few of our local and outreach ministry works:

Benevolence

Our Benevolence Center is open each Thursday from 9 am to 11 am to offer our assistance in meeting the needs of our community in a ministry effort.

We strive to help individuals that find themselves in need for various reasons with basics such as clothing, coats and outer garments when needed for weather, as well as essential food, pantry and some household items as the need is determined.

Donations of coats and clothing are accepted at the Benevolence Center during the hours posted, or you may contact the church office for alternate times.

Jail

Central Church of Christ started a jail ministry program in June 2006. Bob Centracchio leads this work under the direction of the Elders at Central. The Jail Ministry has grown significantly over the past few years to include over 2000 Bible Correspondence Course requests and over 100 baptisms. In addition to the Warren County Jail, there are Bible Courses being sent to 7 state prisons and 16 county jails. We are thankful to have nine other congregations that help grade the Bible Correspondence Courses and provide services inside the jail.

There are a group of ladies and men that visit the jail on Thursday nights. These teachers are preapproved by the jail. The inmates are broken up into what are called PODS. There are two PODS (E & F) for the ladies and four PODS for the men (A, B, C, & D,). Only the ladies go into E & F. The ladies alternate between the PODS (E & F) each week and the men alternate between the four PODS (A, B, C, & D). During the visits, the inmates remain in their cells while a service of singing, prayers and a Bible lesson or sermon is conducted. Before the service begins, a questionnaire sheet is passed out where the inmates can request prayers, Bibles, baptism, and other requests. Sometimes they ask to be restored or have a prayer with them at their cell door. Our ministry also includes prayer for those that request such every Wednesday night at our assembly at the Central church of Christ.

There are several different sets of Bible Correspondence Courses that are distributed to jails and prisons that will allow materials to be distributed. The first lesson set that they receive is the John Hurt eight-lesson course and a second thirteen-lesson course (The Church of the Bible). Two lessons from each course are mailed to the inmates. They complete these and send the answers back in a United States stamped envelope. These are graded and two other lessons are mailed back along with the graded answer sheets. When they complete the eight lesson course, they receive a Bible with their name engraved on it and a certificate of completion.

Matthew 25:33-40 (NKJV) 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' 40 And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'